Cost analysis The cost/utility analysis was performed from the payer's prospective (the health authority). Hospital admissions for the implementation of the process and for health care - in particular, admissions to intensive care, acute care, rehabilitation and the social welfare sector - were considered. Management costs incurred at home were excluded. The prices used for calculations were those of the average daily cost of hospitalisation per type of management as listed in the Interregional Tariff Agreement [Tariffa Unica Convenzionale, TUC] 2009 for hospital healthcare services. The QALY was determined by calculating the years of life gained in management models adjusted for the quality of life. The difference in QALYs between the two models was obtained by considering the average increase of life derived from the survival curves (difference between the areas of the survival curves) adjusted for the quality of life.